Jordan and the Dreadful Golem

by Karen Goldman, Rachel Moseley (Illustrator)

The children of the Israeli town of Keshet are born with the ability to bend nature to their will and 13-year-old Jordan has just discovered his gift of the power to transform into water. All of Jordan’s friends have unique Noam can alter cloud formations, Ellah can spin webs, and little Eden can create the strange animals she sees in her dreams. No one knows the source of these powers except, perhaps, Miss Sara, the mysterious town matriarch who helps the children find and control their talents using Kabbalah and other mystical teachings from Israel’s forgotten past. However, someone has discovered the secret of the children of Keshet, and wants to use their powers for his own sinister purposes. To prevent such a disaster, Jordan and his friends must use their gifts to defeat an enemy who wields the power to erase the line between the living and the dead. Incorporating Jewish mythology and referencing various practices of Judaism, this book is a tale of friendship and the power of teamwork in the face of adversity.

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Childrens

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2013

Reviews

[Gil-or (readingbooksinisrael) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly DNFed

[G]

Suggested (by me) reader age: tween
A big thank you to PJ Library for sending good books like this to Jewish children!

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jordan lives in the Israeli town of Kfar Keshet, where the kids get special powers based around nature that start to appear around the time they turn 13, but sometimes younger, sometimes older, and sometimes never. Jordan is behind on the Power Train. When Jordan, his younger brother and two friends go camping by a lake, they witness a man make another man out of clay. The clay man is a golem, and the creator is Lavan, a sly magician who uses dark magic and tries to stop the kids of Kfar Keshet from being unique with their special powers. The golem could be a danger to the inhabitants of Kfar Keshet!

This is a riveting adventure story based on Jewish folklore. It is based in Israel and the reader gains a lot of knowledge about Kabbalah and other Jewish teachings. I learned that in Jewish folklore a golem is a creature made by magic out of rock or clay. I love learning parts of different cultures and am happy now that I know a golem isn’t just a character in Pokémon. ;) I love the idea of a bunch of super-powered kids and the part of the story where they must learn what their powers are and how to use them. One problem I had with the plot is that it didn’t explain why none of the adults had powers (or maybe they did and they didn’t use them). I like the action and the mystery in the book too. The Amazon rates the book for kids 12+ but I think it is totally fine for kids 9+. The cover is scary, but Ms. Goldman writes a great story that can be enjoyed by all ages. Ms Goldman made Jordan into a great character who the reader can understand. I love how he solves problems and figures out how to use his abilities. This is a great book for boys but girls will also enjoy the adventure!
*NOTE I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I and my kids always love to learn more about other cultures, especially when they’re packaged in an exciting, adventurous tale. Jordan and the Dreadful Golem not only does this, but also has a bit of mystery, loads of adventure and a good douse of friendship.

Although the characters are children with special abilities (types of super powers), they’re lives aren’t really that much different than any other average kid. The story starts with them playing around along the shores of the Jordan River, and immediately adds normal kid problems such as acceptance and dealing with ones own self-esteem.

The scenes and descriptions are well done, and don’t run into the danger of weighing down the plot to the point that it drags. There were many unexpected twists and turns, which held my kids attention. And I really enjoyed the tight writing style in general.

Of course, the Jewish mythology weaved into the plot is a big plus
s—a great way to introduce kids to other cultures without giving the feel that they’re learning something. And the dialogue was not only realistic but aided in holding my kid’s attention.

All in all, it’s a nice adventure for girls and boys, especially those who are curious about other countries and cultures.

[Michael Sypes · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Dreadful" is right! Absolutely awful. I read this book to my ten-year-old. It's like a train wreck. As bad is it was, we just couldn't put it away.
I can suspend disbelief enough to accept kids with magic powers, but not enough to believe that Israeli building codes allow two-story schoolhouses with restrooms only on the second floor and a single entrance that can be locked from the outside.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!